Healing and Forgiving a Paralytic

5:17 Now on56 one of those days, while he was teaching, there were Pharisees57 and teachers of the law58 sitting nearby (who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem),59 and the power of the Lord was with him60 to heal. 5:18 Just then61 some men showed up, carrying a paralyzed man62 on a stretcher.63 They64 were trying to bring him in and place him before Jesus.65 5:19 But66 since they found67 no way to carry him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof68 and let him down on the stretcher69 through the roof tiles70 right71 in front of Jesus.72 5:20 When73 Jesus74 saw their75 faith he said, “Friend,76 your sins are forgiven.”77 5:21 Then78 the experts in the law79 and the Pharisees began to think80 to themselves,81 “Who is this man82 who is uttering blasphemies?83 Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 5:22 When Jesus perceived84 their hostile thoughts,85 he said to them,86 “Why are you raising objections87 within yourselves? 5:23 Which is easier,88 to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’? 5:24 But so that you may know89 that the Son of Man90 has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralyzed man91—“I tell you, stand up, take your stretcher92 and go home.”93 5:25 Immediately94 he stood up before them, picked95 up the stretcher96 he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying97 God. 5:26 Then98 astonishment99 seized them all, and they glorified100 God. They were filled with awe,101 saying, “We have seen incredible102 things103 today.”104